Bakalar helps Barons to battle resolute Flyers

By Gareth Thomson

The Sheldon Jewellery Centre Solihull Barons twice allowed apparently convincing leads to slip away before they ultimately battled their way to two points in their National Ice Hockey league fixture against the Fylde Flyers on Sunday evening.

The Barons welcomed Fylde to Hobs Moat for the second time of the season well aware that despite the Flyers position near the bottom of the league that they area side more than capable of causing an upset.

The game started comfortably enough for the Barons with continuous pressure applied to the Fylde goal eventually being rewarded with the opening goal at 9 minutes as Chris Allen took the puck round the back of the Fylde net before finding Joe Henry square with the goal who in turn made no mistakes in getting on the score sheet.

Two minutes later Charlie Hammerton broke away, deking to the right before putting the Barons two to the good.

At 16 minutes a Fylde powerplay was snuffed out by the Barons but within seconds of its conclusion Fylde's Bobby Caunce's determined play got the Lancashire side their first goal from close in on the net.

The Solihull advantage was however quickly restored toward the end of the first period. Jake Larkin took advantage of a breakaway to deke past Greg Ruxton in the Fylde net, before fan favourite Rob Perks got Solihull's fourth from just outside the crease to allow the Hobs Moat fans to once again watch Perksy's unique line in goal celebrations.

The Flyers regrouped in the dressing room and after soaking up Barons pressure early in the second, hit Solihull with a three on one break which saw Andrew Clark scoring for Fylde off an assist from Caunce. Two minutes later and the same pairing had cut the Barons lead to a single goal so bringing the Flyers back into contention. Three goals in as many minutes however from the Barons Erik Bakalar, Joe Henry and Rich Slater gave the Barons an apparently safe lead by the end of the second.

Fylde however are not side to lie down and showed that they too could rattle in goals in quick succession with four goals in four minutes. Mark Gillingham trickling Fylde's fourth under Barons netminder Hayden Laverick. Joe Charlton gaining the Flyers fifth of a face-off in the Barons end, Andrew Clark their sixth on the break with Bobby Caunce making the most of the open ice in a four on four situation to get the equaliser.

The Barons had to regroup quickly and after stemming the Flyers impetus the experience of Erik Bakalar helped to get two vital goals in the final few minutes to ensure the points went with Solihull.

It was a relieved Barons coach Darren Bellerby who spoke after the game. "I knew the game would be like this. Fylde came short benched but played their two lines really well and never knew when they were beat. It was tough when they pulled it back in the last period but Erik Bakalar came back with two big, big goals for us. We got the two points and now need to make sure we do the same at their rink next weekend."

Despite his hat-trick and game winning goal it was a subdued Erik Bakalar who reflected on the match. "A win is a win but we let them play and they were so fast on the break. We were leading by three and four goals but let them back in. We should win every home game and all games against the weaker sides so next week we mustn't be lazy."

The Barons will not have long to wait to meet Fylde for the final time of the season. This Saturday they travel to the Flyers rink in what will be a tricky fixture for Bellerby's men.

The Solihull Barons return to Hobs Moat on the 24th to take o the Deeside Dragons in what will be a closely fought fixture which will be key in deciding final league positions.

Goals : Bakalar (3), Henry (2), R Slater, Larkin, Perks, C Hammerton
Assists : R Slater (2), Andrews (3), E Slater (2), Allen (2), Henry, Adams, Whitehouse (2), Hunt, Perks, Larkin

Next Away Games Sat 9th Feb @Fylde Sun 17th Feb @Sheffield Barons Bus Available Next Home Game Sunday 24th February The Barons face the Deeside Dragons in a fixture which will go a long way to determining which side ends up on top at the season end. Give the Boys your Support & make sure you're there ! Face-off : 6pm Adults £6 : Concessions £3 Family ticket £16 (2 adults and up to 3 children)